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follow them。 I found the two girls warm in an animated discussion on
the respective merits of the two young officers； but on seeing me Rosalie
broke off in the middle of a sentence to exclaim； with malicious glee …
'Oh…ho； Miss Grey！ you're come at last； are you？ No WONDER you
lingered so long behind； and no WONDER you always stand up so
vigorously for Mr。 Weston when I abuse him。 Ah…ha！ I see it all now！'
'Now； come； Miss Murray； don't be foolish；' said I； attempting a good…
natured laugh； 'you know such nonsense can make no impression on me。'
But she still went on talking such intolerable stuff … her sister helping
her with appropriate fiction coined for the occasion … that I thought it
necessary to say something in my own justification。
'What folly all this is！' I exclaimed。 'If Mr。 Weston's road happened to
be the same as mine for a few yards； and if he chose to exchange a word or
two in passing； what is there so remarkable in that？ I assure you； I never
spoke to him before： except once。'
'Where？ where？ and when？' cried they eagerly。
'In Nancy's cottage。'
'Ah…ha！ you've met him there； have you？' exclaimed Rosalie； with
exultant laughter。 'Ah！ now； Matilda； I've found out why she's so fond of
going to Nancy Brown's！ She goes there to flirt with Mr。 Weston。'
'Really； that is not worth contradicting … I only saw him there once； I
tell you … and how could I know he was coming？'
Irritated as I was at their foolish mirth and vexatious imputations； the
uneasiness did not continue long： when they had had their laugh out；
they returned again to the captain and lieutenant； and； while they disputed
and commented upon them； my indignation rapidly cooled； the cause of it
was quickly forgotten； and I turned my thoughts into a pleasanter channel。
Thus we proceeded up the park； and entered the hall； and as I ascended the
stairs to my own chamber； I had but one thought within me： my heart
was filled to overflowing with one single earnest wish。 Having entered the
room； and shut the door； I fell upon my knees and offered up a fervent but
not impetuous prayer： 'Thy will be done；' I strove to say throughout； but；
'Father； all things are possible with Thee； and may it be Thy will；' was sure
to follow。 That wish … that prayer … both men and women would have
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scorned me for … 'But； Father； THOU wilt NOT despise！' I said； and felt
that it was true。 It seemed to me that another's welfare was at least as
ardently implored for as my own； nay； even THAT was the principal object
of my heart's desire。 I might have been deceiving myself； but that idea
gave me confidence to ask； and power to hope I did not ask in vain。 As
for the primroses； I kept two of them in a glass in my room until they were
completely withered； and the housemaid threw them out； and the petals of
the other I pressed between the leaves of my Bible … I have them still； and
mean to keep them always。
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CHAPTER XIV … THE RECTOR
THE following day was as fine as the preceding one。 Soon after
breakfast Miss Matilda； having galloped and blundered through a few
unprofitable lessons； and vengeably thumped the piano for an hour； in a
terrible humour with both me and it； because her mamma would not give
her a holiday； had betaken herself to her favourite places of resort； the
yards； the stables； and the dog…kennels； and Miss Murray was gone forth
to enjoy a quiet ramble with a new fashionable novel for her companion；
leaving me in the schoolroom hard at work upon a water…colour drawing
which I had promised to do for her； and which she insisted upon my
finishing that day。
At my feet lay a little rough terrier。 It was the property of Miss
Matilda； but she hated the animal； and intended to sell it； alleging that it
was quite spoiled。 It was really an excellent dog of its kind； but she
affirmed it was fit for nothing； and had not even the sense to know its own
mistress。
The fact was she had purchased it when but a small puppy； insisting at
first that no one should touch it but herself； but soon becoming tired of so
helpless and troublesome a nursling； she had gladly yielded to my
entreaties to be allowed to take charge of it； and I； by carefully nursing the
little creature from infancy to adolescence； of course； had obtained its
affections： a reward I should have greatly valued； and looked upon as far
outweighing all the trouble I had had with it； had not poor Snap's grateful
feelings exposed him to many a harsh word and many a spiteful kick and
pinch from his owner； and were he not now in danger of being 'put away'
in consequence； or transferred to some rough； stony… hearted master。 But
how could I help it？ I could not make the dog hate me by cruel treatment；
and she would not propitiate him by kindness。
However； while I thus sat； working away with my pencil； Mrs。 Murray
came； half…sailing； half…bustling； into the room。
'Miss Grey；' she began； … 'dear！ how can you sit at your drawing such a
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day as this？' （She thought I was doing it for my own pleasure。） 'I
WONDER you don't put on your bonnet and go out with the young ladies。'
'I think； ma'am； Miss Murray is reading； and Miss Matilda is amusing
herself with her dogs。'
'If you would try to amuse Miss Matilda yourself a little more； I think
she would not be driven to seek amusement in the companionship of dogs
and horses and grooms； so much as she is； and if you would be a little
more cheerful and conversable with Miss Murray； she would not so often
go wandering in the fields with a book in her hand。 However； I don't
want to vex you；' added she； seeing； I suppose； that my cheeks burned and
my hand trembled with some unamiable emotion。 'Do； pray； try not to be
so touchy … there's no speaking to you else。 And tell me if you know
where Rosalie is gone： and why she likes to be so much alone？'
'Sh